Have you paused recently to notice how and when you compare yourself to others? In this episode Emily and Alix pick through some of our favorite research around the comparison experience. Emily brings up an exciting study from Olympic Medalists, while Alix dives into some of the neurobiological evidence surrounding our stories of comparison, featuring the writing of author Deb Dana (2018). We get into how this impacts the creative process and how an informed and self-aware approach can help us all feel better when comparison shows up. 

After listening to this episode, you will be able to:

• Understand the ways comparison shows up in our lives - both pros and cons  
• Learn about ways comparison affects happiness and satisfaction 
• Understand the role of disconnection vs connection when it comes to comparison
• Learn how to reframe comparison and address counterfactual thinking 

Make art with us:

• Website: makeartandfeelbetter.com 
• Instagram: @makeartandfeelbetter

Do you have a journaling practice? Are you interested in starting one? In this episode Emily and Alix recall times in their lives when journaling has really meant a lot. In this episode, you’ll gain insight into their current journaling practices, as well as recommendations for journaling outside of therapy sessions. Alix and Emily speak about why journaling helps people feel better and how it can help in your day to day life. 

After listening to this episode, you will be able to:

• Understand the impact of journaling as a way to clear your mind and decrease anxiety 
• Learn some creative ways to incorporate journaling into your day to day life 
• Understand how to use journaling to set intentions or create affirming statements 
• Learn about how journaling can be helpful in between therapy sessions 

Make art with us:

• Website: makeartandfeelbetter.com 
• Instagram: @makeartandfeelbetter

What feelings come up for you when you think about your friendships? Do you sometimes feel you need help navigating friendships in adulthood? In this episode, Alix and Emily explore healthy adult friendships, the evolution of friendships, and attachment styles. They also explore the transition of friendships when children are brought into the relationship. Through this brief conversation, we hope that you’ll be inspired to investigate the important friendships in your life - in what ways can you take radical responsibility? In what ways can you let unrealistic expectations go?

After listening to this episode, you will be able to

1.)    Understand how friends can help regulate our nervous systems 

2.)    Understand why managing expectations in relationships is important

3.)    Notice how attachment styles can influence how we show up in friendships, not just romantic relationships  

For more resources on art, healing, and creativity you can go to makeartandfeelbetter.com or on Instagram at instagram.com/makeartandfeelbetter. 

Emily and Alix speak with art therapist Briana MacWilliam about the ways in which her creative process has fueled the launch of her online business as a relationship coach, helping adults with insecure attachment bring in the soul-shaking partnerships they deserve. We love how Briana shared her own tumultuous ride to a successful and sustainable business launch, sharing with us the fascinating ways that her own creative process helped her (and her clients!) get exactly what they want.

Are you feeling confused about the intersection between business and creativity? Do you want to understand more about limiting beliefs and money making? Are you curious about how art therapists pivot their careers and businesses beyond agency or private practice work?

After listening to this episode, you will be able to:

1.  Learn more about intuition versus attachment
2.  Get excited about a “witchy” approach to developing a creative business
3. Gain clarity on how and why creativity is a deeply powerful way to find your way home, back to yourself

We want to remind you that:

1. Using art and art therapy in your career can look so many different ways
2. Intuition and spirituality can support your process in exciting ways
3. There are so many ways to support yourself on your path and Briana shares simple tips to discover and rely on this capacity daily. 

For more resources on art, healing and creativity you can go to our website or instagram 

Have you ever felt like talk therapy isn’t quite doing it for you? Maybe you’re interested in Art Therapy as a form of mental health treatment? Or have you heard of breathwork and reiki as healing practices? In this episode, Mikella Millen shares her journey. We learn about her personal and professional relationship to these healing practices. We speak about complex trauma, mental health, and how art heals. We speak about daily doodling as a way to relax and our work with fiber art. 

Are you starting out on your art therapy journey or a student considering the path? Are you curious about art therapy as a mental health profession? Maybe you’re curious about art therapy as a form of mental health treatment for yourself or someone you know? If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional talk therapy, we have some insights in this episode for you. 

After listening to this episode, you will be able to:

1.  Learn about Reiki and Breathwork as healing modalities in the mental health field 
2.  Understand an Art Therapist’s journey into the field 
3.  Explore perspectives on trauma healing 

Bio for Guest:

Mikella Millen (she/they) is an Art Therapist, Reiki Master Teacher, hypnotherapist, and Breathwork Facilitator who specializes in working with complex trauma. Her approach to trauma treatment incorporates holistic integration of mind, body, and spirit, and is based in the framework that we cannot heal from trauma without recognizing and understanding the impacts of white supremacy, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and capitalism on the individual and collective level. 

Guest Mikella Millen 

http://mikellamillen.com/

Instagram: @mmmikella 

We hope you enjoyed this conversation on why art makes people feel better. 

We want to remind you that:

1.  Body-based practices are incredibly important for nervous system healing 
2.  We all have the answers inside of us - accessing those answers can be tricky. You can find support to help you on this journey. 
3. Community groups can be an amazing resource for connecting to practices like reiki, breathwork, and art therapy with others. 

For more resources on art, healing and creativity you can go to our website or connect with us on instagram

Links to products mentioned in the episode:

https://loopoftheloom.com/bengala-info

Gel crayons 

Sakura pens

Are you tired of feeling stuck in your creative process? This is a quick listen with some clear tips about how to make art and feel better. Emily and Alix talk about moving through procrastination and perfectionism with a mind body approach to creative process. We get into the details of managing an inner critic, the challenges of art making in pandemic era, and how to feel better in a sustainable way without feeling like you’re being bombarded with toxic positivity. Bonus: Learn exactly why Vision Boards can be effective. 

Are you feeling like you want to be more creative but something is always interfering with your process?
Do you know that procrastination is a challenge for you but want to better understand how to move through it? 
Have you struggled with physical symptoms of anxiety or creative block but need clearer answers as to how to move through them?

After listening to this episode, you will be able to:

1.  Identify the role of procrastination and perfectionism
2.  Understand more about your own inner critic
3.  Understand why blocks happen not just in your mind but also in your body

We hope you enjoyed this conversation on why art makes people feel better. 

We also want to remind you that:

1. Feeling stuck is so common and there are tangible ways you can move though this.
2.  Your inner critic doesn’t have the final word on things. 
3. The first step to moving through blocks is noticing where they are, both in your mind and in your body. 

For more resources on art, healing, and creativity you can go to https://makeartandfeelbetter.com or on Instagram at https://instagram.com/makeartandfeelbetter. 

Curious about art materials or getting started making art? This episode is for you. 

Alix and Emily discuss the art supplies every art therapist should have, some personal favorite art materials, and what art processes they keep coming back to again and again. 

Are you feeling like the options are endless when it comes to art supplies? Are you feeling a little stuck getting started? Do you need some ideas about what materials to try out?

Check out our snippets and highlights on Instagram: @makeartandfeelbetter

After listening to this episode, you will be able to:

1.  Feel inspired to pick up a new art material. 
2.  Understand some art therapy perspectives on art materials. 
3.  Be open to the process of exploring materials.

We hope you enjoyed this conversation on why art makes people feel better. 

We want to remind you that:

1.  When engaging in art making, you can be all about the process over product. 
2.  Different art supplies can evoke different emotions - let your intuition guide you to what you want to explore. 
3. Art is healing and art is for everyone. 

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For more resources on art, healing, and creativity you can go to https://makeartandfeelbetter.com or on Instagram at https://instagram.com/makeartandfeelbetter. 

Alix and Emily speak about the top 10 reasons why art is healing. We share research from the field of art therapy and discuss personal stories of how art is meaningful in our lives.

Are you feeling like you know that making art is good for you but you don’t totally understand why? Are you wanting to make more art but pandemic fatigue has you less than motivated? Do you want to understand more about the importance of a creative process?

Check out our snippets and highlights on Instagram: @makeartandfeelbetter


After listening to this episode, you will be able to:

1.   Understand more about the specific benefits of engaging in art making. 
2.   Increase your motivation for making by understanding more about what helps us all move through complicated feelings.  
3.   Feel inspired to connect and learn from creative people like yourself. 

We hope you enjoyed this conversation on why art makes people feel better. We want to remind you that:

1.   There are neurological and somatic benefits to engaging in art making
2.   Art brings people together. 
3.   Art making offers an experience. This is where real change and growth can happen.

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For more resources on art, healing, and creativity you can go to https://makeartandfeelbetter.com or on Instagram at https://instagram.com/makeartandfeelbetter.